Knockdown refrigerator tank unit



KNOCKDOWN REFRIGERATOR TANK UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zine/@fof Ker/fm2? Wjfe als ZL y PWM Sept. 5, 1950 H. w. KLElsT KNOCKDOWN REFRIGERATOR TANK UNIT l Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1948 fvefzw jfefwmw VVK/eisi- Sept. 5, 1950 H. w. KLElsT xNocxDowN REFRIGERATOR TANK UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 22, 1948 Sept 5, 1950 H. w. KLEls'r 2,521,064

KNOCKDOWN REFRIGERATOR TANK UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 5, `195'() KNOCKDOWN REFRIGERATOR TAN K UNT Herman W. Kleist, Chicago, Ill., assignor to' Dole Refrigerating Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,414

(Cl. KS2-199) 4'C1airns. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in refrigerating devices, and has for one purpose to provide an improved refrigerating container.

Another purpose is to provide a knock-down refrigeratng container which can readily be knocked down for shipment and re-assembled, without expert servicing, at the point of use.

Another purpose is to ,provide a knock-down refrigerating container in which the individual Walls not only constitute reiligerating elements, but are easily secured or connected to each other in proper relation to a complete refrigerating system.

Another purpose is to provide a knock-down refrigerating container with a minimum of separate parts.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for locking or securing the knock-down refrigerating elements in place in the final structure.

Other 'purposes will appear from time to time.'

in the course .ci .the specification and Claims..

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings Where- Figure l is a perspective view of` a completed unit;

Figure 2 illustrates the parts assembled for shipment Figure 3 illustrates the individual parts employed;

Figure 4 is a detail;

Figure 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6v is a section, on an'enlarged scale, on the line 6 5 of Figure 1;

Figure l is a section, on an enlarged scale, on theline l-'I of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, with the parts broken away;

Figure 9 is a plan view of. the structure of" Figure 8;

Figure l() is a planV View with a diagrammatic cycle drawing; and

Il t) corners are formed 4of relatively thin sheet metal, and are sho-wn as lying generally in a single, horizontal plane.

Formed for ready application to the bottom unit are side plates 5, 5 and end plates i?. They may he ident-ical, or substantially identical, save for `diiferent .dimensions `which result from the provision of an oblong or elongated unit. Each 4oi the plates has an inwardly bent or inclined end lport-ion i at .each .edge thereof. Along the bottom of each clement is a .channel 3, which .drops over and embraces the upper edges of the ends, sides and corners of the bottoni unit A. The parts so formed that Vwhen the side and end plates are in position, they abut against each other at their side edges.

Along the edges of the inclined portion l, at .eachend of each plate, is formed a harige B, generally at right angles thereto, which has an outer flange portion Ill, the portions l, 9 and I!) together deiini-nga vertical channel, when the parts `are in upright position, the adjacent portions of abutting plates opposing each other, and, preferahly, contacting te form .a reasonably tight joint, as is shown in Figure l. When the parts are assembled, with the bottom channels 8 embracing the edges of thev sides, ends and corners of the bottom unit A, the plates may then be looked in position by the employment of any suitable locking elements I I, each of which is shown as constitutingT a plane body portion having an inwardly bent flange along each edge. t The parts are so proportioned that when the locking member is slipped down over the upper portion of the flange l5, the parts are locked in the position shown in. Figure l. It will be understood that other suitable locking means may be employed, but the one above described is effective.

One or more of the side and end plates may constitute a reirigerating element, I provide, for example, an outer wall l2 having inwardly bent allses i3 about its edges, which flanges terminate in flanges I4 abutting against the outer surfaces ofthe slde-andendplates 5 and s. The parts may be welded or otherwise secured so that each member I2 forms, with its side anges I3, and the opposed side plate 5 0r end plate 6, a closed, hermetically sealed housing in which is positioned any suitable refrigerating coil I5. Each such coil has an inlet entry duct IB and an outlet duct Il. When the side plates are assembled to form the completed closure, any suitable connecting bend I8 may be employed. As a matter of convenience, its ends may be inserted in the inlet I6 of one plate and the outlet I'I of an 3 adjacent plate. When the connector I8 is pressed or otherwise secured, it constitutes, then, an adequate and gas-tight conection between the coils I of two adjacent plates which, for example, may be used to connect the coils, in series, in any suitable refrigerating mechanism.

I iind it advantageous, in order to maintain the coils I5 in snug contact with the inner surface of the plates which surround them, to reduce the pressure Within the side and end plates to something less than atmospheric. As a result, the outside atmospheric pressure forces the plate Walls together against the coils I5 and tends to maintain an adequate heat transfer relationship. I may, for example, provide any suitable nipple 20 with its passage 2| and its enlarged outer space 22. In the outer space 22 I may position a ball 23. Any other suitable means may be employed for withdrawing air from the interior of the plate. When the air withdrawing means is removed, outside atmospheric pressure forces the ball 23 into locking position. An outer, screwthreaded plug 24 may then be used to complete the closure and to prevent unintended entry of air into the entry of any side or end plate.

It will be understood that I may employ any suitable means for cycling a volatile refrigerant through the system thus formed. I thus diagrammatically illustrate a motor 30 operating a compressor 3| which withdraws evaporated refrigerant along the return duct 32. 33 constitutes a condenser on the delivery side of the compressor 3|. 3d is any suitable receiver. 35 is a supply line extending to the refrigerating unit, and 36 is any suitable pressure reduction valve or means, whereby the liquid refrigerant may be delivered, for evaporation, at a suitable low pressure, to the refrigerating coils I5 of the side and end plates 5 and 6.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

I provide a knock-down unit, all of the elements offwhich are shown, in partially exploded relationship, in Figure 3. The sides may be nested in the base, as shown in Figure 2, and the whole device shipped, knocked down, in a relatively small container. The assembly is easily made without the necessity of special tools.

Assuming that a suitable assembly for cycling a volatile refrigerant is shown, as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 10, any suitable duct connections may be made with the individual side elements. Where, as in Figure 10, each of the four sides and ends of the assembly is constituted by an evaporator plate, I find it ad- 4 Vantageous to arrange them in series. As shown in Figure 1l, I may also simultaneously employ a plurality of my assembled units, suitably connected to a cycling assembly in Figure 11; for example, I illustrate the two containers as connected in parallel, for supply from a single source of volatile refrigerant.

The connectors may conveniently be inserted into inlet and outlet sockets IS and I'I. If desired, limiting seats |60, and. |101'l may be employed, and suitable packing or sealing elements |6b and I'Ib may be included. It will be understood, of course, that where the device is to be permanently assembled, any suitable means or procedure may .be employed for permanently securing the ends of the tubular connectors I8 to the adjacent plates which connect them.

I claim:

1. In a demountable refrigerant container, a preformed bottom unit having upwardly extending sides, a plurality of side plates, each said side plate having a bottom edge portion formed and adapted to interlock with an appropriate side of the bottom element, locking members for locking said side plates together along their abutting edges, each said side plate having a cooling coil therewithin, and connecting ducts formed and adapted to connect the outlet of the coil of one plate with the inlet of the coil of an adjacent plate, the cooling coil of each plate having an inlet and an outlet element adapted to interpenetrate with an end of one of said connecting ducts.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including removable locking members formed and adapted to engage and connect upper edges of adjacent side plates.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including side plates having outwardly extending vertical side edge flanges having portions adapted to abut against corresponding flanges of adjacent side plates and formed and adapted to receive said locking members.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including side plates having outwardly extending vertcal side edge flanges having portions adapted to abut against corresponding flanges o1 adjacent side plates and formed and adapted to receive said locking members, said locking members constituting sheet metal clips.

HERMAN W. KLEIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Great Britain Apr. 4, 1932 

